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| According to the city tourism office, Tacloban City's tourism is improving after the pandemic slump. Photo: WikiCommons |
TACLOBAN CITY – The local tourism industry in Tacloban City is beginning to show signs of improvement after experiencing a brief downturn due to the pandemic. This information comes from Ma. Lumen P. Tabao, who is serving as acting Head of the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO).
Tabao revealed that according to the monitoring data of the tourism office, DZR Airport in Tacloban now hosts 20 flights every day; 18 from Manila and 2 from Cebu, which indicates that the local tourism industry is now back on track.
On these flights, approximately 2,000 tourists travel to Tacloban City and other locations in Region 8 every day.
Since the COVID -19 restrictions were eased in the country, 82 new hotels and other establishments related to tourism have opened their doors in the city of Tacloban.
In response to this new development, the City Tourism Operation Office has increased the number of accreditation and regulatory activities that pertain to the city's tourism industry.
According to Tabao, the tourism office has been going around hotels, accommodation establishments, travel agencies, and food establishments to check to see if they have obtained the necessary tourism certificate. One of the prerequisites for issuing a business permit by the city government is the presentation of a tourism certificate.
The CTOO also launched initiatives to position the city as a destination for MICE events (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions).
The other primary objective of the city tourism office is to work toward amending the Tourism Code to further improve the industry as a whole and generate additional revenue for the city.
In addition, accurate data on tourist receipts and other pertinent information on tourist arrivals will be available due to an update to the Tourism Code, enacted during the term of the former Mayor 'Bejo' Romualdez.
According to the official, if the city generates more revenue, its tourist attractions can undergo renovations and receive regular maintenance. —iTacloban (Source: TCIO)